Technologies for Enhancing Social Interactions, 5 cr

The course covers various forms of social interaction (human-to-human) that are mediated, shaped, or enhanced by modern applications of information technology. It dives deep into the recent conceptual, theoretical, and methodological discussions related to social technologies, such as social media services, computer-mediated communication, technology in face-to-face interaction, collaboration platforms, social matching technology, social VR, chatbots, etc. The course draws from the teachers’ own recent research in the areas of Socio-Technical Systems, Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, Groupware, and Social Computing. While the focus is on developing research competences, the students may take a specific stance that supports their own professional profile (e.g., design, analytical skills, media production, policy-making, economics, software development). ​

In terms of learning methods, the course includes lectures with plenty of interactive elements, a few personal assignments, and a small group assignment. No final exam. Remote participation is possible but the best learning experience results from in-class attendance. ​